Machine for clinching a hoop connecting member and the like



March 4, 1958 H. G. BELL Er Al. 2,825,064

MACHINE FOR CLINCHING AHOOP CONNECTING MEMBER AND THE LIKE Filed June 6,1956 w. AU-Im www" ATTORNEYS.

Uflid Statement MACHINE Fok CLINCHING A Hoor CONNECT-Y ING MEMBER ANDTHE LIKE Guthrie Bell, Jacob DouglasGay, Jr., andr Keith GilmoreShatter, Paris, Ky., assignorsto The Gay-Bell Corporation, Paris, Ky.,a' corporation of Kentucky Application June 6, 1-956, serial No. 589,80511 Claims. (CLI- 210) Ourv invention resides in the additionofimprovements to the basic clinching machiney shown, claimed and de#scribed in Patent No. 2,484,398 which issued on- October 1,1, 1949, toHarry Guthrie Bell yand Jacob Douglas Gay, Jr.

An important object of our invention is to provide means for positivelymaintaining the eye of a hinged connecting member While the leaves ofsuch connecting mem#v ber are clamped to the Work.

A further object of our invention is to provide alignment means for theeye of the hinged connecting member which may be readily adapted tothe,basic structure shown in the aforementioned patent.

Another object of our invention is to provide alignmentmeans of the typedescribed which are positive in action and relatively simple' toinstall.V

While the clinching machine of the aforementioned pat-I ent proved to besatisfacto-ry in operation there was a fault which did develop. In spiteof the provision of the seat to receive the eye of the hinged connectingmember while the leaves were moved kby theclinching anvil, itstillsometim'es developed that this eye would be, crushed slightlytso asto give it a sort ofegg-shape. When the eye wasthus distorted the pinsby which the hogshead or barrel sec-- tions were to be maintained,.thesepins being designed to. pass through such eyes, would not pass throughthe distorted eyes. This lmeant either that additional work, largelyhandfwork, had to be performed to'align andreshape the eyes or thatadded inspection had to be utilized in order to discover suchdeformations before the barrel or hogshead panel moved too far along theproduction line.` In any event eXtra work and increased scrap resulted.

An imp ortanty object of our invention, therefore, is to l provide meansto prevent the deformation of the eye portion of the hinged connectingmembers utilized in assembling hogshe'ads so as to decrease the amountof time involved in assembling hogsheads and so as also to decrease theamount of scrap.

These and otherobjects of our invention will become more apparent tothose skilled in the art during the course of the following descriptionand with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which drawings likenumerals are employed to designate like parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clinching machine incorporating theinstant invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2 2 of Figure' l,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of themechanisrnatone stage of the'clinching operation,

' Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4"-'4' of lFi'gur'e`but showing certain of the tuation ofthe machine, j v vFig'ilreSisa'pe'rspective view of a seat provided for the eye'ofthehingedconnectingV member during the clincliin'g operation,

p ligure `6 is `a perspective `view of the hinged connecting parts afterfurther acf 2,825,064 Patented Mar. 4, 1958 2 member on which theclinching machine of this invention is designed to operate,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view showing the position of theconnecting member and alignment means at the start of the clinchingoperation,

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section showing an alternative way ofmount-ingthe alignment means.`

AIn the description to follow we will not unduly elaborate on. thoseportions of the disclosed structure which areI old andv Ydescribed inconsiderable detail in Patent No. 2,484,398. Only so much of this oldstructure as is necessary to the ready understanding of the instantinvention will be described in any detail.

The machine of our invention is designed to fasten properl-y a hingedconnecting member generally indicated at 30 to a stave 39 having a hoop8 thereon. This connecting membery 30 has an upper leaf 31, a lower leaf32 and an eye or pintle aperture 33. The upper leaf 31 has a large prong34 and a plurality of prongs 35 while the lower leaf 32 has a series ofapertures to receive the just-named prongs. The end of the hoop 8 isspaced from the stave 39 a distance just suiiicient to receive the lowerleaf 32. It is contemplated that this lower leaf 32 of the connectingmember 30 will be placed on the stave beneath ther hoop end 8. Withtheconnecting member 30 thus proper-.ly positioned the clinching machinewill be moved into operative position and the upper leaf 31 clinchedagainst the hoop 8. As this occurs the prong 34 passes through an.aperture in` the hoop 8 and an aperture in the lower leaf 32 after whichit is clinched against the lower surface of the stave 39. The shortprongs 35 will pass through, corresponding apertures in the hoop S andlower leaf 32 but are not intended to pass all the way through the stave39.

Our invention residesiin the means for preserving accurately the shapeof the pintle aperture 33 of the connecting' member 30 during the justdescribed clinching operation.

As perhaps best seen in Figure 1 the clinching machine t0 which thisinvention is specically directed comprises a base 1 which is slidable toand from the conveyor which carries the stave 39 and hoop 8. On the base1 are upstanding supports 10 which carry an operating cylinder 11 inwhich there is a piston having a piston rod 12. Although the cylinder 11has been illustrated as being pneumatic it will readily appear that themachine maybe driven hydraulically, mechanically, electrically or innumerous other ways.

Fastened to the end of the piston rod 12 is a yoke 17. Projectingdownwardly from the yoke'17 are three connecting rods 18, 19 and 20. Theclinching ram 21 is pivotally connected to the rod 18 and to a casting23 whichis slidable in ways provided in a portion 27 of the machine.

Fixed to the rod 19 is a member 25 which actuates means for locking thecasting 23 in proper position after thelower end thereof seats on theframe portion 27a. When the casting 23 is so locked it Servestas afulcrurn base for the clinching ram 21. Such locking means comprises alatch plate 23a slidable in casting 23. Member 254 passes through a holein the plate 23a and has ay cam bearing surface 25a. When the casting 23seats on the' frame 27a further movementV of the member 25 causes theportion 25a to shift the plate 23a into the notch 27b whereby to lockthe. casting. This is illustrated iny Figures l and 2. A t

A plunger 28 is fixed to the rod 20 and so arranged scribed in thedetail.

Also positioned on the frame member 27a is a seat 38 to receive the eyeor pintle aperture 33 of the connecting member 3() when the machine ismoved, into clinching position. i

The operation of this much of the machine is as follows. The machine ispositioned so that the eye 33 rests within the seat 33. The piston rod12 is then moved downwardly as are also the rods 18, 19 and 20. Thecasting 23 will seat against the frame member 27a and be locked inposition as described. The clinching ram 2l will engage the upper leaf31 and force it against the hoop 8 while at the same time driving theprong 34 through apertures in the hoop 8 and lower leaf 32 andco-mpletely through the stave 39 whereupon the end of this prong will bewiped flat against the stave bottom 39 by means of the prong clinchinganvil which is actuated by the cam plunger 28 fastened to the rod 20.Following this the valve controlling the cylinder 11 will be reversedand the parts will return to the position shown in Figure 1.

This invention comprises the following improvements added to the old,basic structure just described. A pair of levers 50 is pivoted at 51 onthe casting 23.V A spring 52 centered on pins 53 normally urges thelower ends of the levers 50 away from one another.

The lower end of each of the levers 50 carries a pin or pintle 54 havingan enlarged head 55. These pins are slidable in enlarged apertures 56provided in the lower ends of the levers t). These pins are alsoslidable in apertures formed in a lower flanged portion of the casting23. ln addition these pins engage and are slidable in apertures formedin the lower end of the anvil 21. This end of the anvil 21 has aclearance 21a adapted to receive the seat 33 and pintle aperture 33located therein. By the arrangement just described itwill be apparentthat the pivoted connection between the anvil 21 and casting 23 iseffected by means of the pins 54. Au alternative arrangement is shown inFigure 9 wherein the pivoted connection between the members 21 and 23 iseffected by a double headed bushing 57 having a single aperture toreceive the pin 54. This might give a somewhat more stable construction.

The Vnormal position of the parts prior to the clinching operation isthat illustrated in Figure 2. lt will be observed that the lower ends ofthe levers 5t) are in their spread-apart position. ln this position theinner ends of the pins 54 have just barely passed through the anvilahges to the clearance area 21a. lt will be understood that when thecasting 23 seats on the frame member 27a these pins 54 will he exactlyaligned with the pintle aperture 33 of the connecting member 30 abuttingthe seat 38. The clearance area 21a is sufficiently large to receive theseat 38 and eye 33 between the pins 54 when in the position shown inFig-ure 2.

Carried on the lower ends of the levers 50 are blocks 58 havingadjustable set screws 59 designed to abut the enlarged heads 55 of thepins S4. These screws 59 may regulate` the depths to which the pins 54penetrate the area 21a when the levers 5t) are moved against the actionof the spring 52 as will now be described. The enlarged apertures 56, ofcourse, permit horizontal sliding movement of the pins 54 while thelevers 50 move through an arcuate path when pivoted about the points 51while the enlarged heads 55 insure that the pins will be withdrawn whenthe levers are spread apart under action of the spring 52.

Fixed on the cam rod is a cam 60. This cam rod 25 slides within thecasting 23 as described in the said Patent 2,484,398. After the casting23 has bottomed on the frame portion 27a continued downward movement ofthe yoke 17 will result in similar movement ofthe cam rod 25. This inturn will bring the cam 60 into contact with the cam surfaces 61 of theupper portions of the levers 50. The cam 60 willspread apart the upperportions of the levers with the result that the lower portions thereofwill be moved towards one another against the action of the spring 52.The screws 59 will engage the heads of the pins 54 so that continuedinward movement of the lower ends of the levers 50 will result in thepins 54 being moved towards one another.

The apparatus is so arranged that the pins 54 will move to the positionshown in Figure 4, wherein they lic within the pintle aperture 33 of theconnecting member 30, prior to the final clinching operations so thatthis pintle aperture or eye 33 is fully supported at the time thegreatest pressures are applied to effect clinching of the member 30.These pins 54 are of a size sufficient to maintain the desired shape ofthe aperture 33.

It is believed that the operation of this invention has been clearly setforth above in sufficient detail for a ready understanding of it and,therefore, it will not be described further at this time. It will beunderstood, however, that i although we have described our invention asembodied in certain particular structures and arrangements, we do notintend to be limited to these structures and arrangements except insofaras they are specifically set forth in the subjoined claims.

lHaving thus described our invention, what we claim as new and what wedesire to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a clinching machine for forcing a pair of joined leaf elementstowards one another while maintaining a pintle aperture therebetween andcomprising a clinching anvil, a slidable casting, said anvil beingpivoted to said casting, a frame rest, a seat on said rest to receivesaid pintle aperture, and means to move said casting against said restand said anvil against a said leaf ele ment, the improvement whichcomprises; a pair of levers pivoted to said casting intermediate theirends, a pin slidable in the lower end of each of said levers and meansto move the lower ends of said levers towards one another so as to movesaid pins into said pintle aperture while said anvil is moved against asaid leaf element.

2. The improved machine of claim l in which said last mentioned meanscomprises a cam member and means to engage said cam member between theupper ends of said levers.

3. The improved machine of claim l in which said anvil is pivoted tosaid casting by said pins, said anvil having a clearance area to receivesaid seat, and said pins before actuation of said last mentioned meansbeing spaced to permit reception of said seat in said clearance area.

4. The improved machine of claim 1 including spring means to urge thelower ends of said levers away from one another.

5. The improved machine of claim l in which said pins are mounted inenlarged apertures in said levers for rocking and sliding movementtherein, and other means on said levers engaging said pins to regulatetheir penetration into said pintle aperture.

6. In a clinching mechanism including a slidable casting, a movableanvil pivoted to said casting, a frame rest, a work seat on said rest,and common means to move said anvil and said casting, said castingbottom ing' on said rest and said anvil straddling said seat, theimprovement which comprises: a pair of levers pivoted to said castingintermediate their ends, a pin slidable in the lower end of each of saidlevers and aligned with said seat when said casting bottoms on saidrest, spring means urging the lower ends of said levers apart, and cammeans to engage the upper ends of said levers so as to move the lowerends of said levers towards one another against the action of saidspring means, whereby said pins are moved towards one another throughsaid seat. '7. l.The mechanism of claim-6 including adjustable abutmentson said levers and engaging the outer ends of said pms.

8. The mechanism of claim .6 in which4 there is a pair of bushingsbetween said anvil and said casting, each said pin being slidable in asaid bushing.

9. A clinching machine for closing the leaves of a hoop connectingmember and the like While preserving the shape of a pintle apertureformed at the juncture of the leaves, which comprises: a frame rest, aseat on said rest to receive the pintle aperture of said connectingmember, a sliding member adapted to bottom on said rest, an anvilpivoted to said sliding member and adapted to engage a said leaf, saidanvil having a portion to receive said seat, and pins movableV into saidpintle aperture during engagement of a said leaf by said anvil.

10. The machine of claim 9 in which there is a pair of said pins, a pairof levers pivoted in said machine, each pin being mounted in a saidlever, and means to actuate said levers so as to cause said pins toenter said pintle aperture.

11. The machine of claim 10 in which said pins are slidable in saidsliding member and said anvil, said pins extending to the seat receivingportion of said anvil, said pins being loosely mounted in said levers,and adjustable l0 abutments on said levers engaging said pins.

No references cited.

